Outlet-bushing for conduits.



No. 7|2,5l3. Patented Nov. 4, I902.

F. W. ERIGKSON.

MI'I'LET BUSHING FDR GONDUITS.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1902.)

(-N o M o d e1.)

l UNITED STATEs Pi-ATENT fOFFIoE- To all whom it may concern:

FREDE ICK wnuioxson, on nos ron, MASSACHUSETTS.

OUTLET-BUS I G FOR conou n 's.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,513, dated November4, 19oz. Application filed March 15. 1902, Serial No. 98,362. (Nomodel.)

Be it known that LFRnnnsIoK W. ERICK- SON, residing at Boston, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have in vented certainImprovements in Outlet-Bushings for Conduits, of Whichthe following is aspecification. i

This invention relates to interior conduit systems, which consist ofpipes extending within the floors and partitions or .walls of buildingsand terminating at one or more outlet-boxes located in the said wallsprovided with detachable covers, so that as the conductors are brought,from the pipes croonduits into the said boxes their ends may be attachedto suitable terminals within or ads jacent tothe box. The ends of theconduits are usually extended within theboxes through orifices in their,sides or bottoms and are secured to' the box by'ineans of thimbles orbushings, which at the same time guard the conductors from abrasion andcoiisequent short circuits, stood. i

It frequently happens that the insulated conductors are run betweenpartitions upon insulators, and in such a case from thelast insulator tothe outlet-box the conductors are usually covered by or draw through apiece of flexible fabric conduit, the end of which is projected into thebox, and the conductor is then drawn throughthe said flexible conduitinto the box. The orifices in the walls of the boxare usually made ofstandard sizes, and when conductors are drawn through flexible conduitsas described much trouble developed which has been known to occasion asmall fire in the vicinity of the box.

The invention addresses itself to means for overcoming the defects andsubsequent damages of the indifferent method of making such all in amanner well undersplices; and it consists of a specially designedoutlet-bushing made intwo parts, having an enlarged inner head with aflaring orifice and a rearward extending portion, which are adapted whenplaced together to grasp and firmly hold the end of the flexibleconduit. The two parts are held to one another by a screw-nut,preferably in the form of a springclip, and securelylock the same to thewalls of the outlet-box, as I will now proceed to describe, and pointout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top .view of an outlet'box, showing theinvention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is aside view of an outletthe partsforming the outlet-bushing. Fig. 5 is an end view of the former figure;and Figs. 6 and 7 are,,respectively, end and side views of thespring-clip-locking device.

stamped upfrom a thin piece of metal with partially pressed-out disksac.

. B represents theoutlet-bushing asa whole, and it is shown asconsisting of two semicylindrical longitudinal parts B eachsubstantially like the other.

t' is an enlarged head portionhaving a liar- The rearwardly-extendingcylindrical portion 9' has its outer surface formed with a coarse helixor spiral c c, resembling a screw-thread, while the interior is hollowand its surface divided into rings of. serratedribs (1-, whose teeth 6project head 1 l fis a spiral spring, shown as made from a piece ofsquare or flat resilient wire. It will be understood that the parts iand j may be of any cross-section other than round.

0 represents a piece of flexible conduit made of fibrous insulatingmaterial and covered by a cotton braid such is commonly employed inmaking short connections within the walls of buildings. H

Figs. 1 and 2 show the various parts assembled and a connection madebetween the outlet-box A and the flexible conduit 0. In making such aconnection the two parts B of the bushing 13 are placed together andinserted'from the inside through the orifice ,2

box, showing the invention in section. Fig.

3 is an end View of the outlet-bushinge Figf 4 isa side view oftheinnersurface of one of l A represents an outlet-box of the style ingorifice b, terminating at an abutment s.

toward. theorilice b in the in the wally of the box, from which a disk xhas been forced out, pressing the head parts 6 against the inner faceofthe wall. of the flexible conduit 0 is then inserted between the parts jof the bushing, so that it presses against the abutment s on the insideof the head i. I The spiral springsclip f is then sprung onto theperiphery of the parts j and turned thereupon, as would be a threadednut, until the projecting part g presses firmly against the outer faceof the box-wall, as shown in Fig. 1. Not only does the spiral clipfholdthe two parts B securely to one another and its end g lock the bushingto the box-wall, but the ribs d are so proportioned to the diameter ofthe flexible conduit that the teeth 6 embed themselves in the surface ofthe conduit, so that it cannot be withdrawn except by tearing thesurface thereof.

I prefer to mold the parts B from suitable insulating material, such asporcelain or other plastic material, but do not limit myself to suchmaterial, as they may be made from cast metal of any kind or turned upfrom hard wood or insulating fiber, and in all cases it is desirablethat the orifice b be made smooth in order that no friction be developedindrawing insulated conductors over its surface. It is also within thespirit of my invention to provide other forms of ribs or substitutestherefor for retaining the flexible conduitin place, as any form ofrough surface which will hold the conduit securely is within its scope.

It is evident that the portionsj of the parts B can be proportioned toenable them to grasp and retain an ordinary insulated conductor in thesame manner described of the flexible conduit.

I claim as my invention 1. An outlet-bushing for interior conduits,composed of two similar hollow parts provided with an enlarged head anda smaller rearward portion, the head having a suitable orifice; theexternal surface of the rearward portion constituting a screw-thread,while the surface of the interior is roughened; with a screw-nut adaptedto hold the two parts together.

2. An outlet-bushing for interior conduits, composed of two similarsemicylindrical hollow parts provided with an enlarged head The end anda smaller rearward portion, the head having a suitable orifice; theexternal surface of the rearward portion constituting a screwthread,while the surface of the interior is provided with sharp projections;with a resilient screw-clip adapted to hold the two parts together.

3. An outlet-bushing for interior conduits, composed oftwo similarsemicylindrical hollow parts provided with an enlarged head and asmaller rearward portion, the head hav ing a suitable orifice; theexternal surface of the rearward portion constituting a screwthread,while the surface of the interior is divided into rings or ribs havingsharp edges the angles of which are toward the head; with.

a flexible screw-clip adapted to hold the two parts together.

4. The combination with an outlet-box, of a bushing composed of twosimilar hollow parts provided with a head and a smaller rearwardportion, the head having a suitable orifice; the external surface of therearward portion forming a screw-thread, while the surface of theinterior is roughened; a flexible conduit one end of which is inclosedby the said rearward portion; with a screw-nut in the form of ascrew-clip adapted to hold the said two parts together with the flexibleconduit between them, and lock them to the wall of the box.

5. The combination with an outlet-box, of a bushing composed of twosimilar semicylindrical hollow parts provided with a head and a smallerrearward'portion, the head having a suitable orifice; the externalsurface of the rearward portion forming a screw-thread, while thesurface of the interior is provided With sharp projections; a flexibleconduit one end of which is inclosed by the said rearward portion; witha resilient screw -clip adapted to hold the said two parts together,with the flexible conduit between them, and lock them to the wall of thebox.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 13th day of March, 1902.v

FREDERICK W. ERICKSON. Witnesses:

JOHN A. COLE, LoUIs C. STERN.

